Writing Secure Servlets

I have recently started writing Servlet code. I want to know, how to send data from a web page to a Servlet in an encrypted format? Here is the web page <form method='post' action='/servlet/UserLogin'> <table> <tr> <td><b>ID</b></td> <td><input type='text' name='id'></td> </tr> <tr> <td><b>Password</b></td> <td><input type='password' name='pass'></td> </tr> <tr> <td><input type='submit' value='Submit'></td> </tr> </table> </form> In the servlet I am retriving the parameters using HttpservletRequest.getParameter(String) method. In an ordinary case, the client establishes a socket connection with the web server and passes data as plain text but I want the same to be send in encrypted form. I have no prior knowledge of Java Security API. And, I don’t want to establish a SSL connection.